Underwater light assembly



Au 22, 1967 v F M, N H 3,3377% UNDERWATER LIGHT ASSEMBLY Filed Feb. 19654 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN'VENTOR. FLOYD M. NASH ATTORNEYS Aug. 22, 1967 NASH3,337,725

UNDERWATER LIGHT ASSEMBLY Filed Feb. 5, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

FLOYD M. NASH HIS ATTORNEYS Aug. 22, 1967 F. M. NASH 3,337,725

UNDERWATER LIGHT ASSEMBLY Filed Feb. 5, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 a ssmmmax.

INVENTOR. FLOYD M. M4 SH MYM /'//$ ATTORNEYS Aug. 22, 1967 NASH3,337,725

UNDERWATER LIGHT ASSEMBLY Filed Feb. 5, 1965 4 Sheets-$heet 4 HISATTORNEYS United States Patent C 3,337,725 UNDERWATER LIGHT ASSEMBLYFloyd M. Nash, Little Rock, Ark., assignor to Jacuzzi Bros.,Incorporated, a corporation of California Filed Feb. 5, 1965, Ser. No.430,563 13 Claims. (Cl. 240-26) My invention relates to swimming poolinstallations and the like, and more particularly to an underwater lightassembly for such installations.

In connection with the underwater lighting of swimming pools and thelike, it has been the practice in the past to mount the lamp elements ina watertight enclosure, with the lens portion installed in the poolwall. In the event of leakage with such type of installation, theresulting electrical conductivity with the water of the pool presents areal hazard, and in the past has caused many fatalities to persons usingsuch pools.

Among the objects of my invention are:

(1) To provide a novel and improved underwater light installation forswimming pools and the like;

(2) To provide a novel and improved underwater light installation whichis free of the hazards of prior conventional type installations;

(3) To provide a novel and improved underwater light installation whichmay be readily serviced;

(4) To provide a novel and improved underwater light installation whichmay be fabricated as an assembly;

(5) To provide a novel and improved light assembly for swimming poolsand the like;

(6) To provide a novel and improved underwater light assembly forswimming pools and the like, which light assembly includes means foradding a lighting effect to the proximate deck area of the pool wheninstalled;

(7) To provide a novel and improved lighting effect means for a swimmingpool deck and the like.

Additional objects of my invention will be brought out in the followingdescription of a preferred embodiment of the same, taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a view in section to an underwater light assembly of thepresent invention;

FIGURE 2 is a front view in elevation of such an assembly, partly brokenaway to expose some of the inside details;

FIGURE 3 is a view in side elevation of a modification of the embodimentof the assembly of FIGURE 1 and depicting it in its installedenvironment;

FIGURE 4 is a front view in elevation of the embodiment of FIGURE 3 withthe lens partially broken away; FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary viewin section, through the upper end of the embodiment of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view in section, through the lowerend of the embodiment of FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 7 is a view in section through a lighting feature of the presentinvention.

Referring to the drawings for details of my invention in its preferredform, the same is for installation in a swimming pool or like pool,having a wall 1 and a deck 3 along the upper rim of such wall.

The assembly of FIGURE 1 involves an angular tube adapted tosubstantially extend between a location on such deck and a location onsuch wall below normal level of water in such pool.

The tube is formed with sections 7 and 9 at right angles to each other.Intermediate the ends of the tubes, interiorly thereof, is a planarsurface 11 so located as to be capable of' receiving light from one endof the tube and directing it toward the other end.

In this embodiment of the invention, this is accom- 3,337,725 PatentedAug. 22, 1967 plished by introducing at the bend in the tube, a planarwall section 13 at an angle of 45 degrees to each section of the tube.The inner surface 11 of this planar section, and preferably the entireinner surface of the tube may be provided with high light reflectingcharacteristics such as may be realized by chrome plating, or by anyother means which will produce a high polish over the surfaces inquestion.

At one end of the tube is a lens 17 which is aflixed to the tube in amanner to render it watertight and leak proof. A means for accomplishingsuch sealing of the lens may involve a lens flange assembly including aflange 18 having a snug fit with the proximate end of the tube, to whichit may be Welded or otherwise sealed. Into this flange, the lens,surrounded by an edge seal ring 21 is positioned and tightly clamped bya clamping ring 23 bolted to the flange.

At the remaining or opposite end of the tube is a housing 27 for a lightsource, such housing including a substantially cylindrical body section29 having a cylindrical portion 30 removably afiixed to the proximateend of the tube, by a friction fit or the like, and having an internalshoulder 31 in proximity to the tube, and on which a light source 33 ofthe sealed beam type may be positioned.

Such light source should preferably be one capable of producing aconcentrated light beam made up, in large part, of substantiallyparallel rays. The beam therefore will strike in large measure, withinthe area of the planar surface 11, whereby such portion of the lightwill be reflected thereby, directly through the lens withoutintermediate reflections from the other tube walls.

However, a percentage of the light from the light source may strikesurfaces other than or in addition to the planar surface in question,and will eventually after multiple reflections, pass through the lens.For this reason and in the interest of maintaining high efliciency, theentire inner surfaces of the tube are preferably given high lightreflecting characteristics.

In the wall of the body section 29 of the light housing, is a gland 34through which to bring a power supply for the light source, in the formof a cable 35 carrying three wires, one 37 for grounding to the bodysection of the housing, and the remaining two 39 and 41 for connectionto a plug 45 adapted to be applied to the pin terminals with which suchlight source is conventionally provided.

The body section 29 preferably terminates at its exposed end in a flange49 for the application of a cover assembly 51, including an outer cover53, preferably convex in form and bounded by a lip flange 55 adapted tooverhang the peripheral edge of the body section flange 49. Said outercover has integrally formed internal spacer bosses 56 for supporting thecover on the body flange 49.

An inner cover 57 also preferably convex, is provided with a peripheralflange 59 adapted to match the flange 49 of the body section of thehousing and contact an O- ring seal 61 recessed into the body sectionflange. By means of flange screws 65 passing through the cover assemblyby way of the bosses, the cover assembly may be clamped to the flange ofthe body section, and in conjunction with the O-ring seal 61, may beeffectively sealed thereto.

The cover assembly is designed as a heat protective measure, for whichpurpose, the inner cover is preferably of rust resistant metal, andprovided with a porous plug 71 to permit breathing in either directionwhile preventing water or dirt from entering the space beneath.

The outer cover is of poor heat conductive material, being preferablymolded of fiber glass or other plastic for this purpose. It serves as ashell to prevent physical contact with the inner metal cover, whilepermitting adequate air space and circulation contact with the outsideatmosphere to effect dissipation of heat from within.

The underwater light assembly, when employed in a swimming pool or likepool installation, is installed with the lens frame embedded in theconcrete of the wall 1 of the pool, and with the body section of thelight source housing 27 sufficiently embedded in the deck 3 of the poolto bring the lip flange 55 of the outer cover in close proximity to suchdeck when the cover assembly is installed.

When so installed, the body section flange 49 will be suflicientlyspaced above the deck level as to be out of contact with wateraccumulating thereon, while the lip flange of the cover will protect theseal at this point against splashing and dripping of water.

Being of poor heat conductive material, the outer cover will protect abathers feet from the higher temperatures apt to develop within thecover assembly, and the provision for adequate air circulation in thespace between the outer and inner covers, will serve to minimize theaccumulation of heat therein and the building up of excessivetemperatures in the first place.

With an installation as described, a light source may be readily andconveniently installed, merely by removing the cover assembly andsubstituting a new light source for the one to be discarded.

Inasmuch as all electrical wiring and connections leading to the light,will always be above the maximum water level in the pool, theprobability of the light circuit ever being grounded through the waterof the pool becomes practically an impossibility, even should the Watergain free access to the tube, as by accidental cracking of the lens forexample.

In. the embodiment of the invention depicted in FIG- URES 3 to 6, thereis involved a tube 75 which is straight and with a light housing 79 anda lens installation flange 81 modified to accommodate the same for usewith such straight tube.

In the light housing, a cylindrical portion 83 is disposed at an angleof approximately 45 degrees to the upper portion of the housingstructure, whereby the lamp 33 will rest on a shoulder in an angularposition such as to direct its beams generally parallel to thelongitudinal axis of the tube.

At the lens end of the tube, the lens flange 81 is formed with a section87 angularly disposed with respect to the lens 17, the lowermostlongitudinal dimension at 88 preferably making an angle of approximately15 degrees to the longitudinal axis of the tube 75. This angular sectionthen terminates in a rim S9 concentric with the longitudinal axis of thetube 75, and of a diameter to provide a sliding fit in the end of saidtube.

The flange rim is provided with one or more O-rings 91 to effect a sealbetween the lens flange and the tube, while permitting a certain amountof adjustability, so as to adapt the underwater light installation toslight deviations in dimensions apt to be met with in poolinstallations.

When the light source is resting at an angle, as it does in theembodiment of FIGURES 3-6, a clip 93 may be employed to provide positiveretention, though it would be stable without such retention means.

With an installation such as depicted in FIGURES 3 to 6, a portion ofthe rays emanating from the light source will pass directly through thelens, without deflection, toward the bottom of the pool, while a portionof the light rays will strike the light flange and be deflected anddispersed in various directions. To enhance the reflective power of thelens flange, the reflecting surface thereof may be chrome plated orotherwise provided with a highly polished light reflecting surface.

In lieu of the O-ring seals, the lens flange along its rim, may bewelded or otherwise aflixed to the proximate end of the tube.

In lieu of the breather plug 71, aligned openings 97, 98 in the innercover 57 and outer cover 53 respectively, may be provided, the wall ofinner cover opening being threaded to threadedly receive the hollow stem99 of a reflector assembly 101 which includes a cap 103 mounted on thestem by spaced brackets 105.

By leaving a section 107 of the light reflecting surface of the lightsource 33, in line with the axis of the stern, uncoated, a portion oflight originating within the light source, will pass through the stem,either directly or by reflection from the inner surface thereof, andstrike the undersurface of the cap to be dispersed downwardly and cast aglow upon the surrounding surface of the deck.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing, that the present inventionsatisfies all the objects attributed thereto, and while I haveillustrated and described the same in its preferred form, it will beapparent that the same is subject to alteration and modification withoutdeparting from the underlying principles involved, and I accordingly donot desire to be limited in my protection to the specific detailsillustrated and described, except as may be necessitated by the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. An underwater light assembly installation for a swimming pool or thelike having a wall and a deck along the upper rim of such wall,comprising a tube,

a lens at one end of said tube,

means for sealing said lens to said tube in a water tight seal,

a light housing mounted on the remaining end of said tube for housing alight source, said light housing including a heat protective coverassembly,

said underwater light assembly being installed in a pool with said tubepassing through said wall, and with said lens sealed in said wall andwith said light housing in said deck.

2. An underwater light assembly installation for a swimming pool or thelike having a wall and a deck along the upper rim of such wall,comprising a tube,

a lens at one end of said tube,

means for sealing said lens to said tube in a watertight seal,

a light housing mounted on the remaining end of said tube for housing alight source, said housing including a body section having an internalshoulder on which to rest a light source of the sealed beam type, agland in the wall thereof, above said shoulder, through which to bring apower source for connection to such light source,

and a heat protective cover assembly for said body section,

said underwater light assembly being installed in a pool with said tubepassing through said wall, and with said lens sealed in said wall andwith said light housing in said deck.

3. An underwater light assembly installation for a swimming pool or thelike having a wall and a deck along the upper rim of such wall,comprising a tube extending substantially from a location on said deck,and through said wall at a location on said wall below normal waterlevel of said pool,

a lens adjacent one end of said tube, and substantially flush with thewater exposed surface of said wall,

means for aflixing said lens to said tube,

a light housing mounted on the opposite end of said tube for housing alight source and exposable through the deck of said pool, and

means in said housing for supporting a light source.

4. An underwater light assembly installation for a swimming pool or thelike having a wall and a deck along the upper rim of such wall,comprising a tube extending substantially from a location on said deck,and through said wall at a location'on said wall below normal waterlevel of said pool,

a lens adjacent one end of said tube, and substantially flush with thesurface 'of said wall,

means for aflixing said lens to said tube in sealed relationshipthe'reto,

a light housing mounted on the opposite end of said tube and exposablethrough the deck of said pool, said housing including a body sectionhaving an internal shoulder and a body portion aflixed to said oppositeend, with means for supporting a light source, a gland in the wall ofsaid body section, above said shoulder, through which to bring a powersource for connection to such light source, and

a heat protective cover assembly for said body section.

5. An underwater light assembly installation for a swimming pool or thelike having a wall and a deck along the upper rim of such wall,comprising a tube in said wall and extending substantially between alocation on said deck, and a location on said wall below normal waterlevel of said pool,

a lens adjacent one end of said tube, and substantially flush with thesurface of said wall,

means for aflixing said lens to said tube in sealed relationshipthereto,

a light housing mounted on.the opposite end of said tube and exposablethrough the deck of said pool, said housing including a body sectionhaving a substantially cylindrical body portion aflixed to said oppositeend, with an internal shoulder on which to rest a light source of thesealed beam type, a gland in the wall of said body section, above saidshoulder, through which to bring a power source for connection to suchlight source, and a flange bordering the upper edge of said bodysection, and

a heat protective cover assembly for said body section,

said heat protective cover assembly including an inner cover of goodheat conductive material and an outer cover of poor heat conductivematerial,

said inner cover being supported by said flange and having a breatherplug theret-hrough,

said outer cover having a lip flange overhanging the peripheral edges ofsaid inner cover flange and body section flange, and

means for aflixing said cover assembly to said housing section flange,with said outer cover in spaced relationship to said inner cover.

6. An underwater light assembly adapted for installation in a swimmingpool or the like having a wall and a deck along the upper rim of suchWall above the normal Water level, said underwater light assemblycomprising a tube of a length extending substantially from a location onsuch deck, through such wall to a location on such wall below normalwater level of such pool,

a lens adjacent one end of said tube, and

means for aflixing said lens to said tube in sealed relationshipthereto,

a light housing mounted on the opposite end of said tube, and means insaid housing for supporting a light source.

7. An underwater light assembly adapted for installation in a swimmingpool or the like having a wall and a deck along the upper rim of suchwall above the normal water level in such pool, said underwater lightassembly comprising a tube of a length extending substantially from alocation on such deck, through such wall to a location on such wallbelow normal water level of such pool,

a lens adjacent one end of said tube,

means for sealing said lens to said tube,

a light housing mounted on the remaining end of said tube, said lighthousing including a body section, and

6 v a heat protective cover assembly for said body section. 8. Anunderwater light assembly adapted for installation in the wall of aswimming pool or the like having a deck along the upper rim of such wallabove the normal '5 water level in such pool, comprising a tube of alength extending substantially from a location on such deck, and passingthrough such wall at a location on such wall below normal water level ofsuch pool,

a lens adjacent one end of said tube,

means for sealing said lens to said tube in a watertight seal,

a light housing mounted on the remaining end of said tube, said housingincluding a body section having an internal shoulder on which to rest alight source of the sealed beam type, a gland in the wall thereof, abovesaid shoulder, through which to bring a power source for connection tosuch light source,

and a heat protective cover assembly for said body section.

9. An underwater light assembly adapted for installation in the wall ofa swimming pool or the like having a deck along the upper rim of suchwall, comprising a tube of a length adapted to extend substantiallybetween a location on such deck, and a location on such wall belownormal water level of such pool,

a lens adjacent one end of said tube,

means for sealing said lens to said tube in a watertight seal,

a light housing mounted on the remaining end of said tube, said housingincluding a substantially cylindrical body section removably affixed tosaid remaining end and having an internal shoulder in proximity to saidtube and on which to rest a light source of the sealed beam type, agland in the wall thereof, above said shoulder, through which to bring apower source for connection to such light source, and a flange borderingthe upper edge of said body section,

and a heat protective cover assembly for said body section,

said heat protective cover assembly including an inner convex cover witha vent therethrough, and an outer convex cover,

means supporting said cover assembly on said body section flange, withsaid outer cover in spaced relationship to said inner cover.

10. An underwater light assembly adapted for installation in the wall ofa swimming pool or the like having a deck along the upper rim of suchWall, comprising a tube of a length adapted to extend substantiallybetween a location on such deck, and a location on such wall belownormal water level of such pool,

a lens at one end of said tube,

means for sealing said lens to said tube in a watertight seal,

a light housing mounted on the remaining end of said tube, said housingincluding a body section having an internal shoulder in proximity tosaid tube and on which to rest a light source of the sealed beam type, agland in the wall thereof, above said shoulder, through which to bring apower source for connection to such light source, and a flange borderingthe upper edge of said body section,

and a heat protective cover assembly for said body section,

said heat protective cover assembly including an inner cover and anouter cover,

means supporting said cover assembly on said body section flange, withsaid outer cover in spaced relationship to said inner cover,

said inner cover having venting means therein, and

said outer cover being of poor heat conductive material and having a lipflange adapted to enclose the peripheral edge of said inner cover flangeand said body section flange.

11. A swimming or like pool construction comprising a pool deck abovethe water level in such pool,

a light source installed in said pool deck and casting a light in asubstantially vertical direction when lit,

a cover for said light source for protecting said light source fromwater above deck,

light dispersion means carried by said cover and extending above saiddeck, said light dispersion means receiving light from said source anddispersing it about the surrounding deck surface.

12. A swimming or like pool construction comprising a pool deck abovethe water level in said pool,

a light source installed in said pool deck and casting a light in asubstantially vertical direction when lit,

a cover for said light source for protecting said light source fromwater above deck,

light dispersion means carried by said cover and extending above saiddeck, said light dispersion means receiving light from said source anddispersing it about the surrounding deck surface, said light dispersionmeans including,

a hollow stern extended upwardly from said cover in line with rays fromsaid light source,

a reflecting cap, and bracket means supporting the same above said stem.

13. A swimming or like pool construction comprising a pool deck abovethe water level in said pool,

a light source installed in said pool deck and casting a light in asubstantially vertical direction when lit,

a cover for said light source for protecting said light source fromwater above deck,

light dispersion means carried by said cover and extending above saiddeck, said light dispersion means receiving light from said source anddispersing it about the surrounding deck surface, said light dispersionmeans including,

a hollow stern extended upwardly from said cover in line with rays fromsaid light source,

a reflecting cap, and bracket means supporting the same symmetricallyabove said stern, and an inverted cone suspended from said reflectingcap in line with the axis of said hollow stem to provide lateraldeflection of light impinging thereon.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,762,383 6/1930 Booraem 240-262,125,635 8/1938 Hobart 240-81 2,185,694 1/1940 Noe 240-81 3,116,8841/1964 Lowther 240-26 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,193,103 4/1959 France.

NORTON ANSI-IER, Primary Examiner.

W. M. FRYE, Assistant Examiner.

1. AN UNDERWATER LIGHT ASSEMBLY INSTALLATION FOR A SWIMMING POOL OR THELIKE HAVING A WALL AND A DECK ALONG THE UPPER RIM OF SUCH WALL,COMPRISING A TUBE, A LENS AT ONE END OF SAID TUBE, MEANS FOR SEALINGSAID LENS TO SAID TUBE IN A WATER TIGHT SEAL, A LIGHT HOUSING MOUNTED ONTHE REMAINING END OF SAID TUBE FOR HOUSING A LIGHT SOURCE, SAID LIGHTHOUSING INCLUDING A HEAT PROTECTIVE COVER ASSEMBLY, SAID UNDERWATERLIGHT ASSEMBLY BEING INSTALLED IN A POOL WITH SAID TUBE PASSING THROUGHSAID WALL, AND WITH SAID LENS SEALED IN SAID WALL AND WITH SAID LIGHTHOUSING SAID DECK.